Cauldrons, Cutlets, and Community: Witches Paddle, McGuire Town Hall by Zoom tonite, and the Fight for Local Flavor at Gnar Bar and beyond
Witches Paddle is Saturday, McGuire’s Zoom Town Hall, and the simmering fight for local flavor—from Gnar Bar to the broader brew.
The Halloween season kicks off with a splash this SATURDAY night at the Witches Paddle in Noyo Harbor—a delightfully spirited gathering that might just be the first official haunt of the season. (Yes, the FABULOUS Lions Club Haunted House is coming soon too!)
Witches paddles are a coast-to-coast harbor phenomenon, equal parts costume party and paddleboard parade. And here on the Mendocino Coast—where the free-thinking, free-loving days of the ’60s have mellowed into our current G-rated groove—this is about as wild as it gets. Leading the charge, predictably and gloriously, is Heather Baird: one of Mendocino’s most adventurous and fun-loving souls.
I’ve never made it myself—Friday nights are my perennial work zone—but I’d love for someone to capture the magic. I can lend you the big zoom camera, and you might want a tripod too. Let’s document the witches in flight.
Here’s a link to the nationwide witches paddle phenomenon. There’s also a New York Times article floating around, but beware the paywall.
Witches Paddle: SATURDAY at Sunset in Noyo Harbor
Come witness the magic! The Witches Paddle launches from the South Harbor boat ramp, cruising out to the bridge and back in a twilight spectacle of lights, laughter, and witchy flair.
Meet at 4:00 PM to gear up Launch at 5:00 PM for a spooky sunset paddle
Bring your jack o’lanterns, twinkling lights, and your most enchanting Halloween attire. We’ll conjure up some fun, glide beneath the evening sky, and return to the ramp with broomsticks (and paddles) held high.
🧙♀️ Not Paddling? Come Stir the Cauldron in North Harbor! 🍎
While the witches paddle south, the North Harbor will be brewing its own brand of fun. Witches unite to hand out “poison apples” (don’t worry, they’re delicious) and revel in some wicked shoreline shenanigans.
🎩 Witch hats will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting Mendocino Mermaids, a local 501(c)(3) dedicated to beach cleanups and healthy community-building. Dress up, show up, and support the magic—on land or sea.
🍜 In Defense of GNAR Bar—and Good Taste ☕️
GNAR Bar has now become a local favorite for fun, flavorful take-out. Ramens are a standout, and the chicken katsu I grabbed with the dogs the other day was no exception—crispy, comforting, and uniquely theirs. On another visit, Linda went for the dim sum dumplings—an array of flavors, each paired with a tremendous dipping sauce. Easily some of the best we’ve tasted anywhere on the Mendocino Coast. It’s one of those spots that’s always been part of the Lansing Street rhythm, a place that’s worn many restaurant hats over the years but kept its soul intact.
Now there’s a bit of a stir on the Listserve: someone’s suggested protesting GNAR Bar’s application for an eating place beer and wine license. Why? They have tables. They serve food. No one’s walking out with open containers. It’s hard to see the harm—and easy to see the value in supporting a small business trying to grow. We found out just before publishing the person objecting owned a nearby business for kids, so it makes more sense. But we still favor this, its a business in the right place and everybody there is good for all of us.
Christopher Blake Fennewald, the owner, has poured heart and hustle into this place. If you’re looking to show some love, grab a bite from GNAR Bar, raise a toast to the Mendocino Cafe across the street, or sip something warm at 10450 Lansing Street. Civic engagement is great—but so is community support. Let’s keep both on the menu.
Community Voices on GNAR Bar’s Beer & Wine License
The Listserve lit up this week over GNAR Bar’s application for an eating place beer and wine license. While one commenter suggested opposition, others quickly chimed in with support.
Kate Sarfaty asked plainly:
“Why do you want to oppose this application? It seems a restaurant serving alcohol in a business district, away from schools, is a reasonable enterprise.”
Michael H didn’t mince words:
“Why must people try and destroy local businesses? This is how you get Walmart.”
It’s a reminder that local flavor—whether ramen, katsu, or civic debate—is worth defending. GNAR Bar isn’t just serving food; it’s serving community. Let’s keep the conversation constructive and the take-out spicy.
Katsu: Fancy Name, Fried Comfort
Katsu may sound fancy and exotic, but it’s really just a humble chicken or pork cutlet—breaded, fried up Japanese-style, and absolutely delicious. The magic is in the crisp breading and perfect fry. The word “katsu” is short for “katsuretsu,” the Japanese take on the English word “cutlet.” So not exotic, just Asian comfort food done right.
Mine came with a plum sauce dip that was tasty even straight off the fingers. The dogs got a few bites too, so it turned into a grand little party. I suggest we all write letters to the ABC in support and say how much we need innovative restaurants. If there is an actual reason for opposing this business right where its supposed to be.
On Bias, Process, and the Power of Local Voice
Mendocinocoast.news was accused of bias by a couple of folks in response to our Sauna story. That may be fair—we believe in an old, mostly forgotten journalistic principle: giving a louder voice to those new to the system than to the system itself.
We’re hyperlocal in everything we do. We believe in local empowerment, and we back that belief with editorial voice. If you’re looking for a more global, BBC-style “he said–she said” approach, read Matt LaFever’s piece in SF Gate. It’s solid reporting, just a different lens.
Here’s what we don’t do: print verbatim press releases or approved content from the powers that be. And to be clear—we like the powers that be here more than anywhere we’ve ever lived. But we’re not their cheerleaders. They tend to favor outlets that present reality the way they want it. Outside of Bruce and Mark at the AVA, don’t expect alternative-to-power viewpoints anywhere but here.
We’ll take on stories that need telling, even when authorities agree they shouldn’t be told.
As for the Sauna story, our point was simple: we need a process. We all deserve a say in who can be vendors, and how many vendors should operate in a beach parking lot. Until that’s sorted, the rest is moot. One opponent even sent us photos showing trailers and smoke—we didn’t know that was happening. We think the sauna business is a great idea, but obviously we need a plan for how to do the “blue economy” in partnership with State Parks, which owns most of our oceanfront.
One correction- NOT all motorized crafts are banned from Big River. Small motors and slow speeds are permitted.
We’re devoted environmentalists who often find ourselves at odds with other environmentalists when it comes to business. We speak with an editorial voice and without spin—only what we see as good for the community.
Our model? William Heeser, the immigrant merchant from Baltimore who came to the Wild West and lived his dream of being a newspaper publisher (while holding six other jobs to make it work). We don’t believe in “both sides.” There are always more than two. We let everyone speak, and everyone is free to criticize us and add to the dialogue.
We will always champion local food, local business, and local banking—as both our future and our past.
This community was once hyper-focused by conservative, mostly Republican leaders. There was a virtual riot at a Board of Supervisors meeting when the county wanted to hire a contractor from Santa Rosa—HORRORS!—and use steel for a county building. That was against the law. Our forebears said: we are about wood here. Fort Bragg was built on wood, wood employs us, and you WILL NOT use our tax dollars to build a steel structure.
Then came Bretton Woods. World leaders met on Mount Washington and hammered out an economic system that made the U.S. dollar supreme, created “free” trade, and ensured the death of local economies in favor of a global one. “Made in China” became better for humanity than “Made in Fort Bragg.”
At that moment, half the GOP switched from supporting Main Street to supporting Wall Street. They gained power and glory—but lost their values and their soul. The Democrats, long wandering in the wilderness on this issue, joined them en masse when Clinton bent to GOP demands and passed NAFTA. That was the continuation of a class war the globalists had been waging against localists since Reagan.
Now we are what we are: backed into a box canyon, defeated in an age of total misinformation.
But here’s the thing: the only way forward is local power.
We need a local bank. A local currency. Local environmental watchdogs. And strict intolerance of con artists. We need trains, the tunnel, housing built by small local developers. We need to stop the outside organizations that come here, rake in grant money, and seem to have a religious vow not to pay actual dollars to any local person or business.
We are progressives by policy, and we believe that’s true to the history of the Mendocino Coast. Progressive means progress—not opposing everything, and not using outside laws or consultants to crush other locals.
If you tell us you’re a liberal and won’t shop at a local store because it’s owned by a conservative, we’ll tell you that’s an offensive obscenity.
Right-wingers are often clueless about conservative history, which was never about deregulated chaos—it was about community stewardship. We support you. But if you con us, you’re in trouble
🐝 The Real Buzz from Rene Hohls & the Fort Bragg Beekeepers
Two sweet gatherings remain this year at the Fort Bragg Library:
Thursday, October 16 at 6:30 PM
Thursday, November 20 at 6:30 PM
Tonight’s meeting (October 16) will focus on hive winterization—what works, what doesn’t, and fresh ideas to keep our colonies cozy through the cold. Rene won’t be there this evening, but she’s confident the hive mind will thrive without her.
Next month’s meeting will be a honey tasting celebration. If you were lucky enough to harvest honey this season—or have a special jar from another source—bring it along! We’ll share, savor, and wrap up the year with plans for a buzzing Spring ahead.
NOW OVER—
Tonight at 6 PM, Senator Mike McGuire is hosting a virtual town hall on hunger, focusing on federal cuts to food assistance and how communities are responding.
The event will spotlight the growing strain on families, seniors, and schools due to reductions in food stamp funding and rising costs. McGuire will be joined by key voices in food security, including:
- Allison Goodwin, President & CEO of Redwood Empire Food Bank
- Carly Robbins, Executive Director of Food for People in Humboldt County
- Suzanne Morales, President of the California School Nutrition Association
They’ll discuss how food banks and public schools are rallying to protect access to healthy meals—especially for vulnerable kids and families. The town hall runs from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and will be streamed online and via Facebook.
If you want to tune in or submit questions, you can RSVP and join through Senator McGuire’s event page
Here is a link to participating by Zoom at 6 p.m today
McGuire will pass the torch of top Democrat in the state senate at the end of the year, which is apparently now being rushed.
Politico reports Democrats are squabbling over the McGuire power transition now underway.
